The number of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities has reached a record high of 1,126,690 for the 2023/2024 academic year.
The Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange revealed that this marks a 7 percent increase compared to the previous year, continuing a consistent upward trajectory since the pandemic.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, largely through tuition payments and living costs. Despite growing competition from countries like the U.K., Canada, and Australia, the United States retains its position as the most favored destination for international students worldwide, WAM reported.
Celebrating International Education Week
From November 18-22, the Department of State, in collaboration with the Department of Education, will commemorate International Education Week (IEW). This annual initiative aims to emphasize the advantages of international educational exchange for students, families, and communities both in the U.S. and around the globe. The theme for this year, “Explore,” encourages students, scholars, institutions, and others to investigate international education opportunities that will provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary for success.
Read more: South Korea invests $3.7 billion to revamp medical education by 2030
Highlights of international education initiatives
In conjunction with the Open Doors Report, the Department will showcase important elements of international education throughout the week. This includes efforts under the #StudyWithUS campaign to attract international students to study in the U.S.; opportunities for U.S. citizens to learn foreign languages, as well as English language programs for students in other countries; and success stories from alumni of international educational exchange who have positively impacted their communities and nations.
Engaging students through cultural exchange
As part of IEW, around 1,700 high school students involved in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) programs will present about their cultures and countries in schools and communities across the United States. Last year, students from these initiatives delivered nearly 6,100 presentations during IEW, reaching over 110,000 Americans.
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